Lebanon, OH – The 2026 Miami Valley race meet came to a close on Saturday afternoon (May 2), highlighted by the $100,000 Grade 3 Pacey Mindlin Memorial Invitational and eight divisions, two of each sex/gait, of 3-year-old Ohio Sires Stakes.
Prince Hal Hanover won the $100,000 G3 Pacey “The Wizard” Mindlin Memorial Invitation by a neck over Lou Hill to close out the card and the meet.
As the wings of the Mike Woebkenberg starting gate folded, Lou Hill would be fastest of all, crossing over quickly to take early command. Carbine would slide in behind him with Ardens Ace N in third. Up on the outside, Prince Hal Hanover sat patiently waiting for things to settle and then pressed on around the turn towards the front.
Surreal Ideal would get away in fifth with For Once Inmy Life sixth. Little Rocket Man would be parked out in seventh, Oakwood Heymiki Ir inside eighth, Charlie May parked out ninth and Bythemissal in last.
The opening quarter came and went in a sharp :26.3. Lou Hill had the lead by a nose but Prince Hal Hanover continued to press on and cleared for the lead near the grandstands.
As they neared the half, Ardens Ace N was flushed out first over by Surreal Ideal with the still parked out Little Rocket Man and Charlie May on his back. Prince Hal Hanover would lead them past a half in :54.1.
As they turned up the backside, Prince Hal Hanover continued to show the way with Lou Hill in second. Ardens Ace N slowly closed in from third with Carbine to his inside and Surreal Ideal perfectly placed second over.
The order remained the same as they passed three quarters in 1:22.1. Around the final turn, Prince Hal Hanover still had the lead with Lou Hill waiting for racing room in second. Ardens Ace N started to fade, the first over trip taking its toll, and Surreal Ideal flipped three wide to begin his attack and quest for his 13th win in a row.
At the top of the stretch, Prince Hal Hanover led by a length while Lou Hill angled out of the pocket and Surreal Ideal kept on closing from the outside. In deep stretch, Prince Hal Hanover continued to defend his lead while Lou Hill just kept getting closer. At the wire, Prince Hal Hanover held on by a neck to win the Grade 3 Pacey Mindlin Memorial in his 4-year-old debut in 1:50.1. Lou Hill was a game second while Surreal Ideal, his 12-race win streak snapped, held to finish third. For the Dr. Ian Moore trained Prince Hal Hanover, it was his 11th lifetime win in just 32 starts. He paid $14.60 for the win.
The first of two divisions of 3-year-old filly trotters went to the Nancy Takter-trained Godusa. Before the wings of the gate folded, Godusa’s main two rivals in the race, Charlies Moni and Speedbewithyou both went off stride. With the main challengers erased, David Miller was able to place Godusa into a pocket trip, pulling first over just before three quarters and battling the final turn before easing away in the stretch to win by two and quarter lengths in 1:55.4. Sarah’s Mission was second with Seven Lick Range came home third.
In the second division, Aaron Merriman and Faster Horses found themselves in a familiar position for Aaron, on the front and in control throughout. The only hiccup was having to navigate two geese that found themselves on the rail in the four hole in the middle of the backstretch during the third quarter. Merriman and the rest of the skilled reinsman expertly navigated the geese obstacle course without any ill effects as Faster Horses went on to win by a length and a quarter in a lifetime best of 1:55.4. Ranger Rosie was second while Rose Run Brooke rounded out the trifecta.
In the first division of 3-year-old filly pacers, Merriman had Vanna By The River (trainer Cory Stratton) on the front and in control, but late, she had to hold off a host of closers as challengers were coming at her from all sides. She defeated a hard charging Rodeo Dancer by a nose a two others by a head and neck in winning in 1:53.4. She’safirewoman finished third. It was just Vanna By The River’s second lifetime win.
In the second division for 3-year-old filly pacers, Tyler Smith and 26-1 longshot Sassy By The Sea (Herman Hagerman) would sit fourth, patiently waiting and saving ground. Around the final turn, she popped out and got shot out of a cannon to cruise by everyone in the stretch and win by a measured length in a lifetime best of 1:52.1. Seaside Charm was second and Kb Wrecking Ball, last week’s Hackett winner, finished third. Sassy By The Sea is now two-for-two in 2026.
In the first division of the 3-year-old trotting colts, Rose Run Banker (Ron Burke) and Chris Page settled in third and used the cover provided by David Miller and Grape Crush to draft along for three quarters, eventually popping out in the stretch and going right on by to win by a length and a quarter in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.3. Grape Crush held second while Water Slide ended up third. Rose Run Banker is now three-for-three on the year after sweeping the Hackett Memorial leg and final.
In the second division of 3 year old colt trotters, Chris Lems and heavy favorite Tom Largo (Scott Cox) would go coast to coast without ever being challenged and cruise home a winner by three lengths in 1:54.4. Max The Mighty was second and Rose Run Boom was third. Last year’s Ohio Sires Stakes runner up and Buckeye Stallion Series champion Tom Largo looks to take aim at the top series in 2026.
In the first division for 3 year old colt pacers, Trevor Smith and Pet Project (Kim Dailey) would work out a perfect pocket trip behind Backninebar and Chris Page, popping out on the exit of the final turn to slowly reel in Backninebar and beat him by a neck in the final strides in 1:53.1. Fire Run rallied up for third. It was the fifth lifetime win in just ten starts for Pet Project.
In the second division of the 3-year-old colt pacers, Austin Hanners and Prolific Blend (Todd Luther) would draft along in the pocket behind Hackett Memorial winner Crocodile Station through a stiff half of :54.3. After Yacht Rock tired from his first over journey, Prolific Blend popped out of the two hole at the top of the stretch and blew right on by Crocodile Station to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2. Caillou Hanover would finish third. It was the third lifetime win for Prolific Blend.
Aaron Merriman led all drivers on the closing card with five wins. Leading driver David Miller would make three trips to the winner’s circle.
Speaking of the leading driver, David Miller (161) returned home and won his first Miami Valley drivers title, defeating Chris Page (153) by eight wins. During the meet, David became the all-time winningest driver by wins and earnings as he continues to add to that record. The rest of the top 10 in order were: Brett Miller (117), Luke Hanners (115), Tyler Smith (93), Trace Tetrick (79), Trevor Smith (77), Kayne Kauffman (51), Austin Hanners (48) and Jeremy Smith (33).
Ron Burke (79) won the trainers title by 29 wins over Virgil Morgan, Jr (50). The rest of the top 10 in order were: Heather France (48), Steve Carter (43), Mike Hitchcock (35), Adam Short (22), Anette Lorentzon and Deb Swartz (20), Ken Rucker and Antonia Storer (19).